Cork swimming-suit



(No Model.)

P. PLANT.

CORK SWIMMING SUIT. No. 267,799. Patented Nov. 21, 1882.

WITNESSES JJVV'EJV'TOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE BURITT CALIFORNIA.

NICHOLS AND ISAAC FLOOD, OF SAN LUIS OB ISPO,

CORK SWIMMING-SUIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,799, datedNovember 21, 1882.

Application filedJune 29,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PASCHAL PLANT, of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented an Innproved Swimming Jacket or Suit, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a swimming-garment which shall not interfere at all with the perfectly free motions of the body and limbs; which shall be buoyant and thus aid swimmers, especially feeble swimmers; which shall permit the perfectly-free circulation of the water in contact with the skin, and which shall so fit and envelop the body as to cause but slight resistance, and perhaps none at all, to progress in the water, on account of its pliability and buoyancy.

My invention consists of a jacket or garment, which is substantially a netting of small strong cords and small pieces of cork, fitting like an ordinary knit undershirt or small-scale armor. This garment or jacket preferably extends down to about six inches below the hips, covering the upper partof the thighs, and preferably fastens in front.

In the accompanying drawings, illustratin g my invention, Figure l is a front view, and Fig. 2 an enlarged view, of a portion of my improved swimming-jacket.

A indicates the armholes, and B theleg-holes. (3 indicates the small pieces of cork, about three-fourths of an inch in length and of about the same diameter, netted together with strong and suitable thread or cord, D, in close contact, so as to hide all nakedness of the body.

Through the small spaces between the corks,'

and all around them, the water has free passage, the corks and netting not preventing it from directly reaching the skin all over the surface of the body. Being perfectly pliable, the motion of the body is not in the least interfered with by any portion of the suit. Its buoyancy will enable a person to float with perfect security, while it does not interfere with diving, but aids in coming up to the sur-. face after a dive. In surf-bathing the buoyancy of this suit prevents the swimmer from being drawn down by the under-tow, and thus affords great protection to life.

The advantages of this netting over cloth for bathing-suits are obvious. Cloth'does not permit the free circulation of water in contact with the skin, and is liable to rapid decomposition or deterioration, and, besides, more or less impedes muscular action. The threads or cords used for netting the corks together are preferably saturated with any suitable substance that will render them impervious to water, and at the same time leave them perfectly flexible. This netting need not come in con'- tact with the skin, as the corks will prevent it. A shorter jacket of the same material and construction may be used to cover only the upper part of the body to the waist or hips without departing from the substance of my invention. The corks may be strung together, like beads, or secured to a netting, or even between two nets; but the preferable cmhat shown, in which the small corks are strung on cords that are interwoven into netting.

I do not confine myself to the use of cork, but may use floats of any other light and suit able material that will not absorb water. Nor do I confine myself to any particular manner ofnettingor stringing the corks in the manufacture of the suit, nor to any particular shape of small pieces or beads of cork in forming my body-fitting garment.

l disclaim the use of cloth or like fabric; and I am aware that corks and cloth have been combined in life-preservers and other similar swimming and floating appliances.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An improved swimming suit or jacket, made tofit and cover the body, composed of com blood threads or netting and small pieces or beads of cork, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day of Jane, A. D. 1882.

PASC HAL PLANT.

Witnesses:

LEE D. CRAIG, J. T. POMEROY. 

